High tenacity propylene polymer fiber and process for making it

Abstract

Process for the production of a high tenacity propylene polymer fiber which includes: spinning fiber from a molten propylene polymer composition which essentially includes an olefin polymer (I) and a high molecular weight propylene polymer (II) having a branching index less than 1 and melt strength from 5 to 40 cN; the propylene polymer (II) being present in a concentration from 0.1 to 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition; and drawing the solid fiber thus obtained with a draw ratio greater than 4.5 when the spinning step is continuous and greater than 5 when the spinning step is discontinuous.

We claim: 
     
       1. A propylene polymer fiber having a tenacity greater than 50 cN/tex comprising a polypropylene composition consisting essentially of an olefin polymer (I) and a high molecular weight propylene polymer (II) having a weight average molecular weight of at least 50,000, a branching index less than 1 and a melt strength from 5 to 40 cN; said propylene polymer (II) being present in a concentration from 0.1% to 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
       2. The fiber of claim 1, where the olefin polymer (I) is selected from: 1) isotactic propylene homopolymers having an isotactic index greater than 90;   2) random copolymers of propylene with ethylene and/or a C 4  -C 8  α-olefin; and   3) heterophasic polymers comprising (by weight): A) from 10 to 99.5 parts of a propylene homopolymer or a copolymer of propylene with ethylene and/or a C 4  -C 8  α-olefin, containing over 80% of propylene and having an isotactic index greater than 80, or mixtures thereof;   B) from 0 to 25 parts of an essentially linear semicrystalline ethylene copolymer, insoluble in xylene at ambient temperature; and   C) from 0.5 to 87 parts of a copolymer fraction of ethylene with propylene and/or a C 4  -C 8  α-olefin, and optionally minor quantities of diene, said copolymer fraction containing from 10 to 80% of ethylene, and being soluble in xylene at ambient temperature;     4) mixtures of homopolymers (1) with copolymers (2).   
     
     
       3. A nonwoven fabric comprising the fibers of claim 1. 
     
     
       4. A product comprising the fibers of claim 1.